This 3-day instructor led course provides students with the technical skills required to write basic Transact-SQL queries for Microsoft SQL Server 2008.
Target Audience:
This course is intended for SQL Server database administrators, implementers, system engineers, and developers who are responsible for writing queries.
Pre-requisites:
Before attending this course, students must have:
Knowledge of data integrity concepts.
Core Windows Server skills.
Relational database design skills.
Programming skills.
At Course Completion:
After completing this course, students will be able to:
Describe the uses of and ways to execute the Transact-SQL language.
Use querying tool.
Write SELECT queries to retrieve data.
Group and summarize data by using Transact-SQL.
Join data from multiple tables.
Write queries that retrieve and modify data by using subqueries.
Modify data in tables.
Query text fields with full-text search.
Describe how to create programming objects.
Use various techniques when working with complex queries.
Module 1: Getting Started with Databases and Transact-SQL in SQL Server 2008
The student will be introduced to how client/server architecture works, and examine the various database and business tasks that can be performed by using the components of SQL Server 2008. The student will also be introduced to SQL Server database concepts such as relational databases, normalization, and database objects. In addition, the student will learn how to use T-SQL to query databases and generate reports.
Lessons
Overview of SQL Server 2008
Overview of SQL Server Databases
Overview and Syntax Elements of T-SQL
Working with T-SQL Scripts
Using T-SQL Querying Tools
Lab : Using SQL Server Management Studio and SQLCMD
Exploring the Components and Executing Queries in SQL Server Management Studio
Starting and Using SQLCMD
Generating a Report from a SQL Server Database Using Microsoft Office Excel
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Describe the architecture and components of SQL Server 2008.
Describe the structure of a SQL Server database.
Explain the basics of the SQL language.
Describe the syntax elements of T-SQL.
Explain how to manage T-SQL scripts.
Use T-SQL querying tools to query SQL Server 2008 databases.
Module 2: Querying and Filtering Data
The students will be introduced to the basic Transact-SQL (T-SQL) statements that are used for writing queries, filtering data, and formatting result sets.
Lessons
Using the SELECT Statement
Filtering Data
Working with NULL Values
Formatting Result Sets
Performance Considerations for Writing Queries
Lab : Querying and Filtering Data
Retrieving Data by Using the SELECT Statement
Filtering Data by Using Different Search Conditions
Using Functions to Work with NULL Values
Formatting Result Sets
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Retrieve data by using the SELECT statement.
Filter data by using different search conditions.
Explain how to work with NULL values.
Format result sets.
Describe the performance considerations that affect data retrieval.
Module 3: Grouping and Summarizing Data
The students will learn to group and summarize data when generating reports in Microsoft SQL Server 2008 by using aggregate functions and the COMPUTE clause.
Lessons
Summarizing Data by Using Aggregate Functions
Summarizing Grouped Data
Ranking Grouped Data
Creating Crosstab Queries
Lab : Grouping and Summarizing Data
Summarizing Data by Using Aggregate Functions
Summarizing Grouped Data
Ranking Grouped Data
Creating Crosstab Queries
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Summarize data by using aggregate functions.
Summarize grouped data by using the GROUP BY and COMPUTE clauses.
Rank grouped data.
Create cross-tabulation queries by using the PIVOT and UNPIVOT clauses.
Module 4: Joining Data from Multiple Tables
The students will learn to write joins to query multiple tables, as well as limiting and combining result sets.
Lessons
Querying Multiple Tables by Using Joins
Applying Joins for Typical Reporting Needs
Combining and Limiting Result Set
Lab : Joining Data from Multiple Tables
Querying Multiple Tables by Using Joins
Applying Joins for Typical Reporting Needs
Combining and Limiting Result Sets
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Query multiple tables by using joins.
Apply joins for typical reporting needs.
Combine and limit result sets.
Module 5: Working with Subqueries
The students will be introduced to basic and correlated subqueries and how these compare with joins and temporary tables. The students will also be introduced to using common table expressions in queries.
Lessons
Writing Basic Subqueries
Writing Correlated Subqueries
Comparing Subqueries with Joins and Temporary Tables
Using Common Table Expressions
Lab : Working with Subqueries
Writing Basic Subqueries
Writing Correlated Subqueries
Comparing Subqueries with Joins and Temporary Tables
Using Common Table Expressions
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Write basic subqueries.
Write correlated subqueries.
Compare subqueries with joins and temporary tables.
Use common table expressions in queries.
Module 6: Modifying Data in Tables
The students will be able to modify the data in tables by using the INSERT, DELETE, and UPDATE statements. In addition, students will examine how transactions work in a database, the importance of transaction isolation levels, and how to manage transactions.
Lessons
Inserting Data into Tables
Deleting Data from Tables
Updating Data in Tables
Overview of Transactions
Lab : Modifying Data in Tables
Inserting Data into Tables
Deleting Data from Tables
Updating Data in Tables
Working with Transactions
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Insert data into tables.
Delete data from tables.
Update data in tables.
Describe transactions.
Module 7: Querying Metadata, XML, and Full-Text Indexes
The students will learn to query semi-structured and unstructured data. The students will also learn how SQL Server 2008 handles XML data and will query XML data. The students will also be introduced to full-text indexing in SQL Server 2008.
Lessons
Querying Metadata
Overview of XML
Querying XML Data
Overview of Full-Text Indexes
Querying Full-Text Indexes
Lab : Querying Metadata, XML, and Full-Text Indexes
Querying Metadata
Querying XML Data
Creating and Querying Full-Text Indexes
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Query metadata.
Describe the functionality of XML.
Query XML data.
Describe the functionality of full-text indexes.
Query full-text indexes.
Module 8: Using Programming Objects for Data Retrieval
The students will be introduced to user-defined functions and executing various kinds of queries by using user-defined functions. The students will be introduced to SQL Server views that encapsulate data and present users with limited and relevant information. In addition, the students will be introduced to SQL Server stored procedures and the functionalities of the various programming objects. The students will learn how to perform distributed queries and how SQL Server works with heterogeneous data such as databases, spreadsheets, and other servers.
Lessons
Overview of Views
Overview of User-Defined Functions
Overview of Stored Procedures
Overview of Triggers
Writing Distributed Queries
Lab : Using Programming Objects for Data Retrieval
Creating Views
Creating User-Defined Functions
Creating Stored Procedures
Writing Distributed Queries
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Encapsulate queries by using views.
Encapsulate expressions by using user-defined functions.
Explain how stored procedures encapsulate T-SQL logic.
Define triggers, types of triggers, create a trigger.
Write distributed queries.
Module 9: Using Advanced Querying Techniques
The students will be introduced to best practices for querying complex data. The students will also examine how to query complex table structures such as data stored in hierarchies and self-referencing tables. The students will analyze the recommended guidelines for executing queries and how to optimize query performance.
Lessons
Considerations for Querying Data
Working with Data Types
Cursors and Set-Based Queries
Dynamic SQL
Maintaining Query Files
Lab : Using Advanced Querying Techniques
Using Execution Plans
Converting Data Types
Implementing a Hierarchy
Using Cursors and Set-Based Queries
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Explain the recommendations for querying complex data.
Query complex table structures.
Write efficient queries.
Use various techniques when working with complex queries.
